Alexander Reid

Burrell Collection Photo Library

Alexander Reid (1854-1928) was an influential Glasgow art dealer. In the 1880s he left Scotland to work in Paris for the art house of Boussod & Valadon. One of his colleagues there was Theo van Gogh (1857-1891), art dealer and brother of the artist Vincent (1853-1890). Reid became friendly with the brothers, and even shared lodgings with them. Vincent gave Reid several of his paintings, which Reid sent home to Scotland for safekeeping. Unfortunately his family thought that they were appalling, and destroyed them!

In 1888 Reid returned to Glasgow and set up his own business, using the contacts he had made in Paris with artists such as Monet, Manet and Degas. Many of the French Impressionist paintings now in the collections of Glasgow museums were originally sold by Reid to Scottish collectors.

Reference: 3315

Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Museums